title: Neuroanatomical profiles of personality change in frontotemporal lobar degeneration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The neurobiological basis of personality is poorly understood. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) frequently presents with complex behavioural changes, and therefore potentially provides a disease model in which to investigate brain substrates of personality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess neuroanatomical correlates of personality change in a cohort of individuals with FTLD using voxel-based morphometry (VBM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty consecutive individuals fulfilling consensus criteria for FTLD were assessed. Each participant's carer completed a Big Five Inventory (BFI) questionnaire on five key personality traits; for each trait, a change score was derived based on current compared with estimated premorbid characteristics. All participants underwent volumetric brain magnetic resonance imaging. A VBM analysis was implemented regressing change score for each trait against regional grey matter volume across the FTLD group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FTLD group showed a significant decline in extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness and openness and an increase in neuroticism. Change in particular personality traits was associated with overlapping profiles of grey matter loss in more anterior cortical areas and relative preservation of grey matter in more posterior areas; the most robust neuroanatomical correlate was identified for reduced conscientiousness in the region of the posterior superior temporal gyrus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative measures of personality change in FTLD can be correlated with changes in regional grey matter. The neuroanatomical profiles for particular personality traits overlap brain circuits previously implicated in aspects of social cognition and suggest that dysfunction at the level of distributed cortical networks underpins personality change in FTLD.
authors.affiliation: Dementia Research Centre, Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
authors.forename: Colin J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mahoney
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Rohrer
authors.forename: Rohani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: Martin N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Rossor
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D017028:Caregivers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D057174:Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010551:Personality; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000473:pathology*